Rockies general manager Dan O’Dowd was determined to lock up Ubaldo Jimenez long-term in a short window of time. Colorado signed the right-hander to a four-year, $10-million contract today with club options for 2103 at $5.75 million and 2014 for $8 million.
That brings the value of the contract to $22.75 million if the options are exercised.
“This is something that Ubaldo had interest in doing,” O’Dowd told me today. “We know him, what he’s about. He’s grown up before our eyes.”
The deal buys out his first two arbitration seasons and gives the Rockies a chance control him in his final arbitration season and first year of free agency. The Rockies’ used James Shields’ contract of Tampa Bay as a comparison.
Jimenez will make as follows: $750K this season, $1.25M in 2010, $2.8M in 2011, $4.2M in 2012 with a $1M buyout if options aren’t exercised. The contract also incudes incentives for innings pitched.

Jimenez, who went 12-12 with a 3.99 ERA in his first full season last year, had told The Denver Post in September that he was open to a long deal. Pitchers are usually more agreeable to buying out some arbitration years because of the injury risk. O’Dowd said today that he wanted to get the contract talks done before spring training, feeling that negotiations with Brad Hawpe, Manuel Corpas and Matt Holliday in March last season became a distraction.
“Even you can win in those situations, you can lose because it takes the focus away from the team and puts it on the individual,” O’Dowd said.

This continues a pattern of locking up young core players, including Hawpe, Corpas, Tulowitzki, Jeff Francis and Aaron Cook.

“This continues a pattern of locking up young core players, including Hawpe, Corpas, Tulowitzki, Jeff Francis and Aaron Cook.”

Thank goodness we locked up Matt Holliday to a long term deal.
That showed a real commitment to winning.

Dan O’Clown

“This continues a pattern of locking up young core players, including Hawpe, Corpas, Tulowitzki, Jeff Francis and Aaron Cook.”

Thank goodness we locked up Matt Holliday to a long term deal.
That showed a real commitment to winning.

Troy Renck

No doubt the loss of Holliday stings. I always felt Holliday should be theexception to the rule when it comes to a long-term commitment.

Troy Renck

No doubt the loss of Holliday stings. I always felt Holliday should be theexception to the rule when it comes to a long-term commitment.

Bob Locke

“No doubt the loss of Holliday stings. I always felt Holliday should be the exception to the rule when it comes to a long-term commitment.”

Everyone felt the same way about Helton at the time. How is that one working out?

Now we need to see something for Chris Iannetta and this team will be pretty well set for the next 4-5 years.

O’Dowd is having an excellent winter.

Bob Locke

“No doubt the loss of Holliday stings. I always felt Holliday should be the exception to the rule when it comes to a long-term commitment.”

Everyone felt the same way about Helton at the time. How is that one working out?

Now we need to see something for Chris Iannetta and this team will be pretty well set for the next 4-5 years.

O’Dowd is having an excellent winter.

Troy Renck

Bob, the Helton contract is the primary reason the Rockies’ were apprehensive regarding Holliday. The issue with Rockies’ ownership has issue with the length of contracts more than the average salary. The reason I felt Holliday was worth a similar commitment is that he is a fitness freak with an ideal body type. He once told me that he would be disgusted if he wasn’t in great shape at age 35. I see your point, but for every Helton, you can find a counter argument. You think Manny Ramirez was worth his $8-year, $160-million deal?

As for the Barmes-Stewart debate at second, Stewart has a much smaller sample. He’s not a second baseman. He has terrific range, but is not refined around the bag on doubple plays or cut plays, etc. Stewart’s will be in the mix in left field and third base, but isn’t likely to see much time at second next season

Troy Renck

Bob, the Helton contract is the primary reason the Rockies’ were apprehensive regarding Holliday. The issue with Rockies’ ownership has issue with the length of contracts more than the average salary. The reason I felt Holliday was worth a similar commitment is that he is a fitness freak with an ideal body type. He once told me that he would be disgusted if he wasn’t in great shape at age 35. I see your point, but for every Helton, you can find a counter argument. You think Manny Ramirez was worth his $8-year, $160-million deal?

As for the Barmes-Stewart debate at second, Stewart has a much smaller sample. He’s not a second baseman. He has terrific range, but is not refined around the bag on doubple plays or cut plays, etc. Stewart’s will be in the mix in left field and third base, but isn’t likely to see much time at second next season

Bob Locke

“I see your point, but for every Helton, you can find a counter argument. You think Manny Ramirez was worth his $8-year, $160-million deal? ”

Absolutely, he was. But I also recognize that if he had been a bust or even borderline that the Red Sox would have been in position to sign someone else to replace him where the Rockies would not. And you are correct about the point/counter-point thing with Helton, but the Rockies are not one of those teams that can afford a 50/50 flip of the coin. Until something changes in baseball with guaranteed contracts I think we’re likely to see small and mid-market teams limit themselves in terms of years just like the Rockies have because making one huge mistake (or two good-sized ones) can cripple them.

“Stewart’s will be in the mix in left field and third base, but isn’t likely to see much time at second next season.”

That would be disappointing. The Rockies aren’t going to replace Holliday’s production with one person, so they need to run out a good offensive lineup as often as possible. To me, that means Barmes needs to play a limited role. He just doesn’t hit enough to be an everyday player. I think you probably agree with that even if you won’t post it. I’d be happy to have Stewart at 2B and accept his slight deficit with the glove to gain his huge advantage with the bat. And if Stewart is at 2B then Seth Smith or Carlos Gonzalez (both of whom are better hitters than Barmes) can play LF.

Bob Locke

“I see your point, but for every Helton, you can find a counter argument. You think Manny Ramirez was worth his $8-year, $160-million deal? ”

Absolutely, he was. But I also recognize that if he had been a bust or even borderline that the Red Sox would have been in position to sign someone else to replace him where the Rockies would not. And you are correct about the point/counter-point thing with Helton, but the Rockies are not one of those teams that can afford a 50/50 flip of the coin. Until something changes in baseball with guaranteed contracts I think we’re likely to see small and mid-market teams limit themselves in terms of years just like the Rockies have because making one huge mistake (or two good-sized ones) can cripple them.

“Stewart’s will be in the mix in left field and third base, but isn’t likely to see much time at second next season.”

That would be disappointing. The Rockies aren’t going to replace Holliday’s production with one person, so they need to run out a good offensive lineup as often as possible. To me, that means Barmes needs to play a limited role. He just doesn’t hit enough to be an everyday player. I think you probably agree with that even if you won’t post it. I’d be happy to have Stewart at 2B and accept his slight deficit with the glove to gain his huge advantage with the bat. And if Stewart is at 2B then Seth Smith or Carlos Gonzalez (both of whom are better hitters than Barmes) can play LF.

Bob Locke

The Rockies could not afford to even risk being wrong on Holliday while still saddled with the Helton contract. If Matt happened to get hurt while Todd is still underperforming then this team would have no chance to compete for at least three years. To be honest, I’ve been extremely disappointed with Helton’s absolute refusal to defer any money to help the team put additional talent on the field with him. I know he’s a “team guy” by reputation, but he’s already made nearly $100 million from this franchise and he’s still unwilling to stretch out his guaranteed dollars when they could have possibly kept Holliday if he had. That doesn’t exactly say “team first” to me.

And if Barmes continues to play 2B it’s going to cost the Rockies in run production. There’s no way that Stewart playing 2B costs them more runs than he would produce over Barmes.

Bob Locke

The Rockies could not afford to even risk being wrong on Holliday while still saddled with the Helton contract. If Matt happened to get hurt while Todd is still underperforming then this team would have no chance to compete for at least three years. To be honest, I’ve been extremely disappointed with Helton’s absolute refusal to defer any money to help the team put additional talent on the field with him. I know he’s a “team guy” by reputation, but he’s already made nearly $100 million from this franchise and he’s still unwilling to stretch out his guaranteed dollars when they could have possibly kept Holliday if he had. That doesn’t exactly say “team first” to me.

And if Barmes continues to play 2B it’s going to cost the Rockies in run production. There’s no way that Stewart playing 2B costs them more runs than he would produce over Barmes.

Patrick, a third-generation Colorado native, is back for his second stint covering the Rockies. He first covered the team from 2005-2009, helping chronicle “Rocktober” in 2007 and also following the team’s playoff run in 2009.

Nick Groke has worked at The Denver Post since 1997, as a sports reporter, city reporter, entertainment writer and digital editor and producer, among other newsroom posts. He also writes regularly about boxing, soccer, MMA and NASCAR.